…Urges Youths To Enlist In Military
By ERIC MOORE
CHIEF of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed concerns about the unwillingness of youths within the recruitment age of 18 and 22 years, in Rivers State and Niger Delta region generally, in joining the Nigerian Army.
This unwillingness, according to the COAS, is making states in the region not meeting up the recruitment quota allotted to them.
The message from the Army headquarters was delivered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, by a team of senior Army officers, led by the Acting Director, Supply and Transport Services, Department of Army Logistics, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Brigadier General Wiito Nzidee.
Brigadier General Witto Nzidee, noted that some states in the South-East and South-South regions of the country did not meet up with their quotas in recent Army recruitment exercises; hence, the sensitization to encourage young people in the affected areas to enlist in the 88th Regular recruitment process of the Nigerian Army.
Brigadier General Nzidee emphasized: “We are here (Rivers State) to create that awareness to the state government and to the entire Rivers people that they are not utilizing their quota in the Army. Other states would utilize their quota.
“You can’t blame some of these young people, because they are not aware of it. That’s why we have come to create this awareness, imploring the best to join us as partners in progress and development of Rivers State and, of course, the entire Nigeria.”
He also denounced the notion that candidates need to have godfathers, or connections to join the force, stressing that Army enlistment procedures are focused on competence of candidates.
“The registration is online now, the portal is open. They should go, click and register, and I can assure that anyone that is fit to be in the Army will be recruited.
“The notion that you need to know somebody before you come into the Army is a wrong notion. I am a Brigadier General today, and a son of the soil (Rivers State ) in the Nigerian Army, I did not know anybody.”
Meanwhile, the Commander 6 Division Garrison Sector 3, Joint Task Force (South-South) Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed, observed that Rivers State did not meet up with its quota in the last recruitment exercise.
He urged qualified youths in the state to take advantage of the current recruitment that would give them opportunity to acquire professional career in life.